Chapter twenty five

"You can't love me, Leonardo. You shouldn't."

The next string of words that escapes Alison's lips plummeted his hopes and increased his fear of rejection.

Leonardo took a hold of her wrist, the one she snatched out of his hold.

Maybe he can make her understand, that she is the air he breathes now, her presence is what he seeks.

Maybe, she would turn back on her words and finally realize he isn't joking a bit about his feelings.

Her soft palm lay on his coarse own, he flicked his gaze to her and is surprised to see tears pouring down her face.

That's is not the only thing he saw. He could see the pain reflecting in her eyes, the anguish she is passing through.

Was she also hurt like him?

The days he suffered taking refuse in the bar house, drinking himself to sorrow and puddle of vomit. He felt the need to end the pain of the betrayal Felicity poured on him.

He felt the need to prove he won't let a woman plunge him into another terrible depression and lack of hope.

He also promised himself not to love another woman after Felicity's harsh betrayal.

His days were spent working, trying to make a name for himself out there without his father's help or influence.

And at night?

He drowned his nights with eager girls, he used them and wiped out their beliefs that a shrewd one-night stand with him, was a ticket into his life.

He relished the fake tears, streaming out of their eyes and the curses that followed.

All of that because he simply wanted to avenge Felicity's betrayal.

Relishing each moment of every night, but during the days he felt empty, devoid of any real feelings.

H

Those girls he spent his night with weren't plastered in his memories, he hardly knows how they looked like talk more of their names.

They never tugged the strings of his heart, he used them to prove a point, he could break a girl's heart not the other way around.

A point that is not so valid now.

He wanted to cause the pain Felicity imprinted on him. Even after her death, he could not find redemption.

The tears in Alison's heart told him, she has her dark tales of love.

It is there buried in her green orbs, he could see her struggle against her pain trying to find another chapter of her life that might rid the pain forever.

"Is it a crime to love you?" He asked wanting a response from her.

Instead, she looks at him squarely, the vulnerability he saw in her eyes gone, wiping any trace of weakness in her. Her green eyes boring into his.

He guesses she was about to make a firm resolution, in a quick bid to build up her walls.

Deceiving herself she doesn't in one bit love him, he could see her love and feel it.

Getting her to admit it, would get it done.

"Leonardo," she started with a pause, her lips quivering of what she was about to say. Her lips all he could recall was how sweet it was, soft, plump, and magnetic.

He was drunk with lust just from kissing her. The drive to recur the kiss once more was present, he almost and would have if she had not slipped out of his grip at the last second.

"Loving me isn't something you should do," She voices out, disbelief tainting her tone.

" To be sincere with you, my life isn't the one meant for love. It is complicated, once you get to know me for who I am, you won't hesitate to leave."

The term in which she looked at herself in the area of love shouldn't be approved, it is like she already placed the thought in her head that one can never love her.

He chose to be quiet over the matter and listen to what she might say, "And besides, I am not your type, I'm not all lady-ish and all."

"That is plain stereotypic, and whether you are my type or not that is not my bother. What matters now is that I have fallen deeply for you."

"Tell my Alison, do you love me too?" Her eyes averted at his question, she seemed to be lost in her thoughts.

"Tell me, do you feel anything for me?" He asked more, searching for her face, using the tip of his finger, he placed it under her chin and raises her head to meet his gaze.

Her gaze steeled on his, and lips pressed in a thin line, she said rather strongly, "No."

"I don't love you," she added, settling her gaze on the setting sun, the breeze became even stronger whipping some part of her hair.

He could hear the lie in her voice.

Not so long ago, she confessed he made her feel things.

You make me feel things I don't want to feel...

He could recall the exact words she said and how his heart leaped for joy.

No, Leonardo, you don't want another rejection, you simply can't stand another one-sided love. He closed his eyes trying to push those thoughts away.

Why was he always on the losing side? His first love destroyed him with her betrayal, while Alison?

Alison loves him as much, as she wants to deny it, she confessed without recalling, he scoffed inwardly at her blatant white lie.

He would never give up on her yet until she admits her feelings.

"You do love me, Alison, in due time I would prove that to you."

"I would be leaving for Spain in the next two days, for a two weeks trip. When I am back I would make sure you confess your love to me."

He tilted his head cockily to the side adding a frown to her face, "What do they say? Right... Patience is the best virtue "

"I would never do that, bet all you want. Ms. Rebecca might wonder what is taking my time. I need to go."

"Let me drive us back," he offered to earn a scoff from her.

"I would pass, I would do fine on my own without you."

With that note she turned on her heels leaving him standing there, a pit of loneliness dug in his chest as she left, it felt like she was leaving forever, and her final tone scared him.

What if she doesn't love you? His mind bored into that possibility, as much as he wants to push it away.

It might be true.

He watched as she walked away, she stopped halfway and craned her head back to him, clearing the disturbing hair from her face, "I wanted to end all that ever existed between us, Leonardo. Everything, but now you made it a lot harder."

He smiled at her annoyed tone and watched as she walked away.

Her statement gave him hope, maybe just maybe...

Love isn't a new thing to him, but loving Alison...?

*

Paige noticed how thoughtful Alison has been ever since she came back from God knows where with Mr. Adriano.

The ride was a silent one, Garrett made it in time today to pick them up, and when she tried engaging with Alison.

Her short reply ticked her off, she noticed her mind wasn't one with her surroundings she had a lost look in her eyes. Very distant, and her familiar furrows on her forehead.

Sighing for the umpteenth time, she closed her eyes.

Something is wrong with Alison?

Which had her curiosity piqued.

Something that has to do with Sir Leonardo.

What is Alison hiding?

And what is she so worried about?

The sudden halt of the car jerked Paige from her thoughts, while Alison remained in hers.

Garret hurriedly got off the car, opening the side door for them to come out, Paige trudged her legs forward towards the open door, but Alison didn't budge one bit.

"Alison, we have arrived at the hotel," Paige whispered, waking her from her thoughts.

"Oh... I wasn't aware." She said taking in her environment, slinging her purse over her shoulder, she stepped out of the car.

They both waved at Garret as they left him.

Walking into the hotel, they strolled along the reception hall, into the suite elevator.

Alison pressed the button and shifted towards the edge clutching her purse to her chest.

Paige noticing her input was wrong hurriedly corrected it by pressing the right buttons, " Why did you change the number?" Alison asked noticing Paige's action.

"You pressed the wrong suite number. Are you okay Alison you seem a little off today?" Paige inquired a bit worried about her friend.

"I am fine, I promise. They are just something that happens in your life, you need to take them slowly, or they might end up blowing your mind." She muttered the last part.